So, technically, the diner was opened up pretty late, because A.J. was doing stuff at the graduation brunch, but it was his last day. What was Lacey going to do? Fire him? He thought about maybe skipping it all together, but the distraction from having eventually met Annette's parents was ssumingly greatly needed ( Read more... )

It was the Grads' Brunch in the park today, as the brightly coloured banner -- CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2008! -- indicated.

There were lots of tables and chairs set up in the park, under sails for shade, and long tables groaning under the weight of the food and drink. Not just traditional moddable brunch foods, but a wide selection of also ( Read more... )

Today's arrivals would find a large banner with the words "Congratulations Graduates" greeting them as they stepped into the lobby. Mary was waiting at the front desk with the guest register and a lot of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. Normally Friday would be River's day and River would have cookies, but Mary felt bad making her work on ( Read more... )

It amazed Hoshi just how much she missed her two little alien children, especially little Toru who had relied on her so much this weekend. It put some things in perspective for her. Which is why Hoshi talked to her mother yesterday for the first time since December ( Read more... )

In matching pink dresses, Annette and Aimee sat behind the counter, where Annette bought her daughter a book of stamps so she could make something pretty on a big piece of white construction paper. Annette was like the best mom ever ( Read more... )

Anders so felt weird coming to work tonight with two little girls hanging onto him, but he kind of had to. Luckily, Tino had put a couple of New Kids on the Block beach towels up over the liquor ( Read more... )

In addition to the usual special that A.J. had when there was a weekend and there were children, his own or his classmates turned into children, either way, really, there was another one:

TODAY'S SPECIALS
PB&J with the crusts cut off

And a free milkshake to anyone under the age of 10!No, he hadn't exactly checked with the Boss about whether or ( Read more... )

Not far from where the Skeleton Tea had been held earlier in the day, there was a tent that had been erected, with thiny, gauzy material and bone-like poles. Not dirty. The lights were soft as the evening grew darker, casting a welcoming, yet vaguely spooky illumination on the proceedings ( Read more... )

When Annette got to work, she sat in a chair behind the counter after she set out the bell with a note that read:

I'm right here. There is no sense in ringing the bell. Unless you just want to ring the bell. Then ring it only once omigod.

What?

So there she was, sitting, and writing... more like doodling in a notebook, but she was there to help ( Read more... )

Somewhere around dawn, a tent mysteriously appeared in the middle of the park. There was an air of mystery about it, and it was hard not to miss, and did we mention it was mysterious? Because it was ( Read more... )